Becky Willits (She/Her)
@willitslab.bsky.social
Professor and Engineer
Mechanobiology & Tissue Engineering for Nerves
Opinions are my own
Mechanobiology & Tissue Engineering for Nerves
Opinions are my own
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
One of these federally funded breakthroughs that changed the world is GPS, which was invented at Hopkins.
The government has made deep cuts in research funding of science, engineering and medicine.
The NYT describes 5 federally-funded scientific and technological breakthroughs that changed .... everything
Here: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/s...
The NYT describes 5 federally-funded scientific and technological breakthroughs that changed .... everything
Here: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/s...
9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything
www.nytimes.com
May 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
One of these federally funded breakthroughs that changed the world is GPS, which was invented at Hopkins.
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
::Lands in Canada for one second::
May 20, 2025 at 12:10 AM
::Lands in Canada for one second::
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
If you're at ECS, I have two talks this week. Come say hi. #ECSMontreal #ECS247
May 20, 2025 at 10:57 AM
If you're at ECS, I have two talks this week. Come say hi. #ECSMontreal #ECS247
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
“These cuts are the height of self-inflicted harm,”
Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades
The lag in funding extends far beyond D.E.I. initiatives, affecting almost every area of science: chemistry, computing, engineering, materials and more.
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
“These cuts are the height of self-inflicted harm,”
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
⛔️ UPDATE:
We obtained the full list of NIH terminations at Harvard. Lowlights:
- 659 total grants at Harvard in the NIH-created list
- $2.19 billion in total award value
- $960 million in award remaining
You can view them all using the "Harvard" tab on the airtable
grant-watch.us/nih-data.html
We obtained the full list of NIH terminations at Harvard. Lowlights:
- 659 total grants at Harvard in the NIH-created list
- $2.19 billion in total award value
- $960 million in award remaining
You can view them all using the "Harvard" tab on the airtable
grant-watch.us/nih-data.html
nih-data – Grant Watch
grant-watch.us
May 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
⛔️ UPDATE:
We obtained the full list of NIH terminations at Harvard. Lowlights:
- 659 total grants at Harvard in the NIH-created list
- $2.19 billion in total award value
- $960 million in award remaining
You can view them all using the "Harvard" tab on the airtable
grant-watch.us/nih-data.html
We obtained the full list of NIH terminations at Harvard. Lowlights:
- 659 total grants at Harvard in the NIH-created list
- $2.19 billion in total award value
- $960 million in award remaining
You can view them all using the "Harvard" tab on the airtable
grant-watch.us/nih-data.html
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
All of NIH funding to Northwestern University is frozen. This pause includes noncompeting approved funding, new and competing grants with fundable scores. No reimbursements for money already spent have been received since March. This situation is rarely reported so please Please get the word out!
May 23, 2025 at 5:56 PM
All of NIH funding to Northwestern University is frozen. This pause includes noncompeting approved funding, new and competing grants with fundable scores. No reimbursements for money already spent have been received since March. This situation is rarely reported so please Please get the word out!
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
85% of children diagnosed with cancer are alive at least 5 years later. Just a few years ago, childhood cancer had a horrible prognosis. These advance were made by universities.
Yet, government has terminated terminating billions worth of competitive grants that will stop cold these advances.
Yet, government has terminated terminating billions worth of competitive grants that will stop cold these advances.
85 percent of children diagnosed with cancer are alive at least five years later, according to the National Cancer Institute. Survivors can face lifelong complications from their treatments — something oncologists are working to improve.
More kids are beating cancer. Improving the rest of their lives is next.
“There’s an entire population of kids who didn’t exist before. Now we need to figure out how to best support them,” one expert says.
wapo.st
May 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
85% of children diagnosed with cancer are alive at least 5 years later. Just a few years ago, childhood cancer had a horrible prognosis. These advance were made by universities.
Yet, government has terminated terminating billions worth of competitive grants that will stop cold these advances.
Yet, government has terminated terminating billions worth of competitive grants that will stop cold these advances.
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
May 4, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
NIH laying off hundreds more staff, including the cancer research institute.
The US is now a country in full self-harm mode.
www.cbsnews.com/news/nih-lay...
The US is now a country in full self-harm mode.
www.cbsnews.com/news/nih-lay...
National Institutes of Health lays off hundreds more staff, including at cancer research institute
The cuts at the National Institutes of Health blindsided staff, after reassurances that no further layoffs were planned.
www.cbsnews.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
NIH laying off hundreds more staff, including the cancer research institute.
The US is now a country in full self-harm mode.
www.cbsnews.com/news/nih-lay...
The US is now a country in full self-harm mode.
www.cbsnews.com/news/nih-lay...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
We have updated our database of funding opportunities for Early-Career Researchers (private foundations, federal, international)
We have 456 entries, for which we provide $ amount, deadline, eligibility criteria, etc.
Download this massive database here for free: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
We have 456 entries, for which we provide $ amount, deadline, eligibility criteria, etc.
Download this massive database here for free: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
May 7, 2025 at 4:46 PM
We have updated our database of funding opportunities for Early-Career Researchers (private foundations, federal, international)
We have 456 entries, for which we provide $ amount, deadline, eligibility criteria, etc.
Download this massive database here for free: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
We have 456 entries, for which we provide $ amount, deadline, eligibility criteria, etc.
Download this massive database here for free: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
Important message. Also important to remember that federal funding for science isn’t “given” to university laboratories - it is awarded based on highly competitive process, profs spend months/years on proposals that are reviewed by experts, most are rejected.
www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
Young, Pottinger Op-Ed: Funding for R&D Isn’t a Gift to Academia. It's Vital to U.S. Security. - Senator Young
The following column by Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Matthew Pottinger, Former Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States, was published in The Washington Post on March 24, 2025. By Sena...
www.young.senate.gov
May 6, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Important message. Also important to remember that federal funding for science isn’t “given” to university laboratories - it is awarded based on highly competitive process, profs spend months/years on proposals that are reviewed by experts, most are rejected.
www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
Devasting that clinical trial for Jim's PediaFlow baby heart pump is on hold due the stop on all DOD funding at Cornell.
Funded by DOD CDMRP, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, yet White House stopped Congress funds
#ResearchSavesLives #Standup4Science
youtu.be/a7aUBvBcPV4
Funded by DOD CDMRP, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, yet White House stopped Congress funds
#ResearchSavesLives #Standup4Science
youtu.be/a7aUBvBcPV4
Research at Risk: Life-saving heart pumps for babies
YouTube video by Cornell University
youtu.be
May 8, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Devasting that clinical trial for Jim's PediaFlow baby heart pump is on hold due the stop on all DOD funding at Cornell.
Funded by DOD CDMRP, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, yet White House stopped Congress funds
#ResearchSavesLives #Standup4Science
youtu.be/a7aUBvBcPV4
Funded by DOD CDMRP, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, yet White House stopped Congress funds
#ResearchSavesLives #Standup4Science
youtu.be/a7aUBvBcPV4
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
Download and distribute our (massive) database of funding opportunities and fellowships for POSTDOCs
Cuts across all fields of research. 293 fellowships with info about deadline, amount, field, eligibility, etc.
Good luck!
Download this database freely here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Cuts across all fields of research. 293 fellowships with info about deadline, amount, field, eligibility, etc.
Good luck!
Download this database freely here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
May 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Download and distribute our (massive) database of funding opportunities and fellowships for POSTDOCs
Cuts across all fields of research. 293 fellowships with info about deadline, amount, field, eligibility, etc.
Good luck!
Download this database freely here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Cuts across all fields of research. 293 fellowships with info about deadline, amount, field, eligibility, etc.
Good luck!
Download this database freely here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
188 PhD/graduate fellowships from private foundations, federal agencies and international organizations.
Database can be downloaded here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Database can be downloaded here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
May 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
188 PhD/graduate fellowships from private foundations, federal agencies and international organizations.
Database can be downloaded here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Database can be downloaded here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
The time is now for your voice to be loud and clear. Congress must defend science.
Please widely share these 3 new advocacy letter templates with your colleagues.
@lolauic.bsky.social @orssociety.bsky.social @bmes-cmbe.bsky.social @aapmhq.bsky.social @acadrad.bsky.social @ceschmidt2024.bsky.social @settonlab.bsky.social @tejaladesai.bsky.social @farsh-g.bsky.social
@lolauic.bsky.social @orssociety.bsky.social @bmes-cmbe.bsky.social @aapmhq.bsky.social @acadrad.bsky.social @ceschmidt2024.bsky.social @settonlab.bsky.social @tejaladesai.bsky.social @farsh-g.bsky.social
May 9, 2025 at 8:54 PM
The time is now for your voice to be loud and clear. Congress must defend science.
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
🚨 AIMBE is calling on the biomedical research community to take a minute to send our 3 new advocacy letters urging Congress to:
1. Protect the STEM Training Pipeline (e.g., NIH MOSAIC, T32s, MARC, etc.)
2. Oppose Indirect Cost Caps
3. Support Research Funding in FY2026
aimbe.org/advocate/wri...
1. Protect the STEM Training Pipeline (e.g., NIH MOSAIC, T32s, MARC, etc.)
2. Oppose Indirect Cost Caps
3. Support Research Funding in FY2026
aimbe.org/advocate/wri...
May 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
🚨 AIMBE is calling on the biomedical research community to take a minute to send our 3 new advocacy letters urging Congress to:
1. Protect the STEM Training Pipeline (e.g., NIH MOSAIC, T32s, MARC, etc.)
2. Oppose Indirect Cost Caps
3. Support Research Funding in FY2026
aimbe.org/advocate/wri...
1. Protect the STEM Training Pipeline (e.g., NIH MOSAIC, T32s, MARC, etc.)
2. Oppose Indirect Cost Caps
3. Support Research Funding in FY2026
aimbe.org/advocate/wri...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
The pact of the federal govt with universities was not a handout. It was a strategic decision to boost US leadership in technology, defense, and health. And it paid dividends. In tech, internet, in cancer drugs (for example), No other sector has invested in high risk high reward ideas like US govt.
May 10, 2025 at 2:42 AM
The pact of the federal govt with universities was not a handout. It was a strategic decision to boost US leadership in technology, defense, and health. And it paid dividends. In tech, internet, in cancer drugs (for example), No other sector has invested in high risk high reward ideas like US govt.
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
This is a great 60 Minutes piece on the impact of NIH cuts on patients including those with Alzheimer’s. Great job by Kristin Weinstein from University of Washington highlighting the impacts on students (9:00). @uwmedicine.bsky.social www.cbsnews.com/news/scienti...
Scientists fear Trump administration cuts to NIH could impact the health of Americans for generations
Former National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins, who abruptly left his NIH research lab in February, fears aggressive downsizing could impact Americans' health.
www.cbsnews.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:45 AM
This is a great 60 Minutes piece on the impact of NIH cuts on patients including those with Alzheimer’s. Great job by Kristin Weinstein from University of Washington highlighting the impacts on students (9:00). @uwmedicine.bsky.social www.cbsnews.com/news/scienti...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
The National Institutes of Health, the largest funder of biomedical research in the world, has fired 1,300 employees and cancelled more than $2 billion in federal research grants. https://cbsn.ws/4daiCrv
How cuts at the National Institutes of Health could impact Americans' health
Cuts and layoffs to the National Institutes of Health threaten medical research around the U.S., agency insiders warn.
cbsn.ws
April 28, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The National Institutes of Health, the largest funder of biomedical research in the world, has fired 1,300 employees and cancelled more than $2 billion in federal research grants. https://cbsn.ws/4daiCrv
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
We just announced the PIVOT and BRIDGE award funds, as well as enhanced university services to help researchers at Hopkins in these difficult times.
On and forward!
Read about these here: research.jhu.edu/jhu-research...
On and forward!
Read about these here: research.jhu.edu/jhu-research...
April 28, 2025 at 6:50 PM
We just announced the PIVOT and BRIDGE award funds, as well as enhanced university services to help researchers at Hopkins in these difficult times.
On and forward!
Read about these here: research.jhu.edu/jhu-research...
On and forward!
Read about these here: research.jhu.edu/jhu-research...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
Federal research funding flows to all 50 states and is a critical part of the economy in many college towns around the US. Federal research funding "has now become one of the few drivers of innovation that is widely distributed across the country". www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
See Where Federal Dollars Flow to Universities Around the Country (Gift Article)
The Trump administration has targeted a few elite universities with its threats to freeze funding. But many more schools around the country are vulnerable.
www.nytimes.com
April 30, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Federal research funding flows to all 50 states and is a critical part of the economy in many college towns around the US. Federal research funding "has now become one of the few drivers of innovation that is widely distributed across the country". www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
75% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases are in kids under 6.
1960s: ALL survival was 10%.
Today: Survival is over 90%.
That’s because of chemotherapy.
Not supplements, “detoxes,” juice, or wellness bullshit.
Chemotherapy saves lives.
Misinformation kills.
Read more in Immunologic ⬇️
1960s: ALL survival was 10%.
Today: Survival is over 90%.
That’s because of chemotherapy.
Not supplements, “detoxes,” juice, or wellness bullshit.
Chemotherapy saves lives.
Misinformation kills.
Read more in Immunologic ⬇️
Cancer misinformation kills. Chemotherapy saves lives.
Rejecting evidence-based treatment in favor of false hope and wellness industry lies is deadly.
news.immunologic.org
April 30, 2025 at 7:09 PM
75% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases are in kids under 6.
1960s: ALL survival was 10%.
Today: Survival is over 90%.
That’s because of chemotherapy.
Not supplements, “detoxes,” juice, or wellness bullshit.
Chemotherapy saves lives.
Misinformation kills.
Read more in Immunologic ⬇️
1960s: ALL survival was 10%.
Today: Survival is over 90%.
That’s because of chemotherapy.
Not supplements, “detoxes,” juice, or wellness bullshit.
Chemotherapy saves lives.
Misinformation kills.
Read more in Immunologic ⬇️
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
Testicular cancer was fatal in ~95% of cases before cisplatin was developed in the 1970s.
Today, survival exceeds 95%, even when cancer has metastasized.
That’s thanks to:
Chemotherapies
Scientific research
Biopharmaceutical therapies
Evidence-based medicine
1/
Today, survival exceeds 95%, even when cancer has metastasized.
That’s thanks to:
Chemotherapies
Scientific research
Biopharmaceutical therapies
Evidence-based medicine
1/
May 1, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Testicular cancer was fatal in ~95% of cases before cisplatin was developed in the 1970s.
Today, survival exceeds 95%, even when cancer has metastasized.
That’s thanks to:
Chemotherapies
Scientific research
Biopharmaceutical therapies
Evidence-based medicine
1/
Today, survival exceeds 95%, even when cancer has metastasized.
That’s thanks to:
Chemotherapies
Scientific research
Biopharmaceutical therapies
Evidence-based medicine
1/
Reposted by Becky Willits (She/Her)
The Spencer Foundation is offering rapid response bridge funding for those who lost NSF research grants.
www.spencer.org/grant_types/...
www.spencer.org/grant_types/...
Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program
In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, we have developed a rap...
www.spencer.org
May 2, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The Spencer Foundation is offering rapid response bridge funding for those who lost NSF research grants.
www.spencer.org/grant_types/...
www.spencer.org/grant_types/...